Preakness 2017 Early Odds

To the victor go the spoils, and in Always Dreaming, we have a very impressive victor of the Run for the Roses. Quickly shifting from Louisville to Baltimore, there are only 11 more days from racing's Middle Jewel, and the field is firming up for Preakness Stakes 2017. Who will be at Pimlico to see if they can prevent the Kentucky Derby winner from taking his fifth straight, and move one step closer to the Triple Crown? As of right now, there are ten expected to enter the Preakness starting gate on Saturday May 20. Let's take a look at the ten, including a brief analysis, and my early odds ...

1) Always Dreaming  (6-5)  Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez

The son of Bodemeister is no longer a 'how good is he?' horse. After an adding an emphatic Kentucky Derby victory to his big score in the Florida Derby, he is now the 'who can stop him?' horse. A repeat of his last two makes him strictly the one to beat in the Preakness, but there is still the small matter of proving he can beat the best on a dry track, and on only a two-week turnaround.

2) Classic Empire  (3-1)  Mark Casse / Julien Leparoux

For all he has been through in 2017, it really is a shame that the two-year-old champion did not get a good trip in the Kentucky Derby. Still, he demonstrated his obvious class, overcame plenty of trouble, and a wide trip, to finish fourth of 20. Can he turn the tables on the favorite with a good trip in Baltimore? It is very possible.

3) Lookin At Lee  (8-1)  Steve Asmussen / Corey Lanerie

He did not get into the Derby until a week before, and then when he did get in, he drew the undesirable one-hole. Things went well in the race, though, as the rail remained primarily open for him to launch a strong rally that carried him to second. After two big efforts in a row, he will no longer be a longshot.

4) Gunnevera  (10-1)  Antonio Sano / Mike Smith

Unlike the horse just above him, the Fountain of Youth winner was taken off the rail, which was the best part of the track, to launch his rally from the outside in the Derby. That eventually took his toll, as he hung in the stretch and finished seventh. With a good pace, and an easier trip, he remains a threat.

5) Conquest Mo Money (15-1)  Miguel Hernandez / Jorge Carreno

Not many noticed when the New York-bred son of Uncle Mo won his first three races impressively at Sunland Park, but a game second in the rich Sunland Derby, followed by an even better second to Classic Empire in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, have pointed out that he is for real. He should keep the Derby winner plenty busy early on.

6) Royal Mo   (15-1) John Shirreffs / Gary Stevens

Another with a good deal of early foot, he was left out of the Derby on a tie-breaker. If you look at his California form, rather than his one poor effort in Arkansas, it would be easy to think this hulking colt has a chance. Gary Stevens liked what he felt in the Santa Anita Derby, and will be back in the saddle for the Preakness.

7) Hence  (15-1)  Steve Asmussen / Florent Geroux

The impressive looking winner of the Sunland Derby was the wise-guy horse at Churchill Downs. Unfortunately for Hence and wiseguys alike, the Calumet runner just never had much room to run while finishing 11th of 20 in the Run for the Roses. He came back good, so if you liked him on May 6, he might be worth another shot at Pimlico.

8) Multiplier  (20-1)  Brendan Walsh / Joel Rosario

The son of The Factor has done nothing wrong for trainer Brendan Walsh. He's improved with each successive start, culminating with a sharp late run to win the Illinois Derby in his fourth lifetime start. It's another big step up to the Preakness, but you have to like his progression so far.

9) Cloud Computing  (20-1)  Chad Brown / Javier Castellano

Another lightly raced colt, he was liked enough by his connections to send him into the Gotham and Wood Memorial in his second and third starts respectively. After a dull break in the Wood, he never threatened Irish War Cry and Battalion Runner, when third. Improvement is certainly needed, but not out of the question.

10) Senior Investment  (20-1)  Kenny McPeek / Channing Hill

He hasn't always fired, but on his best game, he has proven to be a dangerous late runner for trainer Kenny McPeek. Evidence of that can be seen in his latest outing, when he relentlessly closed to get up and win the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland over a deep field at odds of 11-1.